I am once again riding in the Children’s Hospital Courage Classic to raise money for the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders where my daughter, Martha, was treated for 7 years. Martha died after a nearly seven-year battle with cancer. Children’s Hospital was there for Martha, and our family, from the very beginning to the very end. Martha never let statistics affect her ability to stay hopeful that there was a path to a cure, and the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s Hospital was there throughout, providing options and supporting Martha’s desire to live. For that, I am eternally grateful.
Despite being in treatment much of the 7 years after her initial diagnosis, and going in and out of remission multiple times, Martha had a good life. When Martha was told she had cancer at age 13, she essentially grew up overnight, and as result she had an agenda: getting shit done. And did Martha get shit done. Martha enjoyed being outside as much as possible and at an early age fell in love with snowboarding and cycling. She raced mountain bikes for the Boulder High mountain bike team all four years of high school, racing numerous times while in the middle of treatment (chemotherapy). Martha rode in five Courage Classics (again, while in treatment). Martha grew as an artist as well, she took ceramics classes at BHS all four years and became an exceptional potter. She honed her artistic skills in numerous other mediums like watercolor, stamp carving and hand sketches. It did not stop there, thanks to the pandemic, when she became a fantastic foodie who cooked her parents healthy meals after her siblings had gone away to college. Martha was always scheming on the next thing she was going to create, and you name it, if she could find a video on YouTube about some cool craft or project, Martha would make it.
Without the help of Children’s Hospital of Colorado, Martha couldn’t have done all that. So, please help our family thank Children’s Hospital Colorado for everything they do to help kids stay healthy, recover from an illness, or in Martha’s case, fight for her life, by donating to my fundraiser.
Thank you in advance for your donation.
Much love, peace and understanding,
Margaret/Martha's mom
